Electric signal



wmn, 1924. 1,515,061

E. W. M KINLEY ELECTRI C S I GNAL Filed July 7 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 g) C 1 ll/fl E. w. MCKJNLEY ELECTRIC SIGNAL Filed July 1923 3 Sheets-Shaw 2 Nov. 11, 1924. 1,515,061

r.-:. w. MOKINLEY ELECTRIC SIGNAL Filed July 7. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet JQ/Q. 1'7 Z0. if /fi'uZ y Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

UNITED T S; PATENTQOFFICE.

EDWIN w. cKInLEY, or NEwYoRx, N.

nnnomrc SIGNAL.

Application filed July 7,

To: all dil zom it maycon aernr Be it known that I, EDWIN W. MCKINLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county'of New York and State of New York, have invented certrain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings; i

This invention relates to certain improvements in signals and has relationmore particularly to a device. of this general character especially designed andxadapted for useinconnection with motor vehicles or the like giving various traffic warningssuch as' indicating the intention of stopping or to indicate the direction in which a turn is to be made.-

Another objectof the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character comprising a single plate having produced thereon portions through which light rays are adapted to be emitted, said portions being so arranged and assembled to provide a composite of a plurality of indications or symbols such as the words Rite, Left and Stop together with means whereby parts of said portions may be selectively illuminated to bring one of such indications or symbols into conspicuity.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangementof the several parts of my im-,

proved signal whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered 'simpler, 1ess expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. v v The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. 1 In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where1n Figurel Isa view in rear elevation of a vehicle having applied thereto a signal constructed in accordance-with an embodiment of myinvention and operating to bring a single indication or symbol into conspicuity;

Figure 2 is a view vin elevation of the member to be assembled within thecasing and which is provided with separate compartments each containing an independent illuminating member; r

1923. Serial No. 650,088.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the completedevice and on substantially the line -3'*3 of 'Figure 2; I

"Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through the complete device and on substantially the line 44gof Figure 2; I

Figure '5 is a sectional View taken through the complet'edevice and on substantially the I line55 of Figure 2;

Figure S is'an enlarged view in frontelevation of the device as herein" disclosed and particularly illustrating the composite indication or symbol, the compartments and illuminating members associated therewith being indicated by broken lines,"

Figure 7 is a view in front elevation of thesignal as herein disclosed showing the same illuminated to exhibit one indication;

Figure 8 is a view in front elevation of the signal as herein disclosed showing the same illuminated to exhibit a second -indica tion;

Figure 9 is a view in front elevation'of the signal as herein disclosed showing the same illuminated to exhibit a third indication.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, my improved signal comprises a casing G of requisite dimensions and configuration and in which snugly fits a unit A pro-' viding a series of lamp compartments 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, ll, 12, 13, 14-and 15 of irregular shape. The rear or inner wall of each ofthe compartments isprovided with a lamp socket 16. Overlying the outer open faces of theunit A is an opaque plate'17. This plate 17 has provided there- Left and Stop.

The left end portion of the plate 17, as herein disclosed, is provided in its upper part with an angular opening comprising the horizontally disposed parallel portions a and I) connected at their outer ends by a vertically disposed portion 0. The inner end of the portion?) is continued by the depending vertical ortion d while the inner-end of the portion a is continuedby a short depending portion 0. The portions 1, b, d and e overlie the compartment 2 while the portion 0 overlies the compartment 1. Also. overlying the compartment 1 andubelow the portion a andsubstantially coplanar therewith is a vertically disposed slot f. 'At a point below the portion'd of the first named slotand substantially parallel therewith and extending from the lower portion of the slot f and terminating below' the portion dis a slot 9, said slot 9 overlying the compartment 3 and aportion of the com partment 5 partially underlying the com--- and having their inner ends immediately adjacent to the slot h, the lower slot mbeing of a length greater than the slot is and substantially co-extensive with the slot 7 j.

The plate 17 is provided with a slot 1 overlying the compartment 9, said slot being substantially in the form of an inverted L, and the slot 0 overlying the compartment 8 and substantially coplanar with the slot j and the upper or leg portion of the slot at. The plate is also provided with the relatively short slot p overlying the compartment 10 and positioned at substantially the central part of the inner portion or stem of the slot 12. Overlying the compartment 11 is a slot 9 in the form of a reversed L and also with the short horizontally disposed slot 1" overlying the compartment 12 and positioned at the upper extremityv of the vertical portion of the slot g. A slot 8 also substantially in the form of an inverted L, overlies the compartment 13 and a slot t in the form of a reversed'L overlies the compartment 14, the foot of the slot 2? being toward approximately the central part of the vertical. portion or stem of the slot 8. Coplanar with the foot of the slot 25 and interposed therebetween and between the vertical portion or stem of the slot 8 is a slot to overlying the compartment 15 and also overlying the compartment 15 is the horizontally disposed slot v positioned adjacent to the lower extremity of the stem or o lower portion of the slot 8 and having its outer endterminating substantially at the lower portion or foot of the slot 8.

Disposed over the plate 17 is a transparent pane 18, and said pane 18,.plate 17 and unit A are held in assembled relation by the suitable clamping members 19 coacting directly with the pane 18 and the outstanding flanges 20 carried by the casing C. The outer or free marginal portion of the unit A is provided with an outstanding flange 21 which overliesthe flange 20 and the marginal portions of the plate 17 overlie the flange 21 with the pane 18 disposed entirely over the plate 17. Arranged within the various compartments and operatively engaged within the sockets 16 associated therewith arethe lamps 1, 3*, 4:, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1O, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, said lamps being of electric type and which are under control of a suitable switch forclos ing the circuits therefor-.1" It is not believed necessary to illustrate and describe herein the switch as such switch" may be of any desired construction which can be employed to advantage. However I have disclosed a special switch for accomplishing this result in an application for patent filed on even date herewith.

When it is desired to give intention that a stop is to be made the following lamps are illuminated, 1, 2 8, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11*,13 and 14* resulting in light rays being disposed through the following slot or slot portions a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, z, j, n, g, t and s as is particularly illustrated in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

When a turn is to be made to the right the following lamps are illuminated l 2*,5, 8", 9, 13 and 15 which bring into conspicuity the slot or slot portions a, 6,0, (Z, 6, f, the

portion of the slot 9 overlying the compart ment 5, h, n, 0, 8,11 and '1).

'When an indication is to be given of a' turn being made to the left the following lamps are illuminated, 1, 3*, 5, 6*, 7, 9, 10 12 and 13 wherein illumination is had through the slot or slot portions 0, f, g, k, j, k, m, n, p, 1' and s.

In practice when the driver of the vehicle equipped with my improved signal desires to stop, he will operate the control switch to energize the group of lamps that illumi nate the stencil openings that formthe word Stop. to the right he will operate the switch to energize the group of lamps that illuminate the openings'that form'the word Rite; and if he desires to turn to the left he will operate the switch to energize the group of lamps that illuminate the openings forming the word Left.

v The unit'A is also provided in its lower portion with an elongated compartment 22 in which is centrally arranged a taillight 23, the overlying portion of the plate 17 is provided with a requisite opening 24 of desired configuration.

This application is in continuation in part of my former application Serial No. 583,343, filed August 21, 1922.

From the foregoing description it is thought'to be obvious that a signal constructed in accordance with my invention is articularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which If he desires to turn the vehicle.

I it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason -I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of.

the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as here inafter claimed.

I claim 1. In an electric signal, a case provided with a series of pockets, a lamp; in each pocket, and a stencil letter plate covering the pockets, said plate having letter-forming openings registering with each of the pockets and one of the pockets extending beneath and on opposite sides of another of aid pockets.

2. In an electric signal, a case provided with a series of pockets of irregular shape, a lamp in each pocket and a stencil letter plate covering the pockets, said plate havmg letter-forming openings and some of the openings having different portions register-V ing with difi'erent pockets.

3. A signal of the class described comprising a casing provided with a series of compartments, illuminating means within each of the compartments, and a plate disposed over the compartments, said plate having transparent portions providing a composite of a plurality of indications registering with the compartments, certain of said portions overlying a plurality of compartments.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EDWIN W. MQKINLEY. 

